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Burmeisters Porpoise

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Burmeisters Porpoise

Burmeister's porpoises can be found only in the coastal waters of South America, from southern Brazil south around the southern coastline of Tierra del Fuego and north on the Atlantic side to northern Peru. Within its range it inhabits coastal waters usually 150 metres or less in depth and is frequently seen in rivers and estuaries. Burmeister's porpoises have also been spotted up to 55 km from shore.

Burmeister's porpoises are uniform grey dorsally, with lighter pigmentation ventrally. Their dorsal fin extends from the body at a very shallow angle and its trailing edge is usually straight or slightly convex. The dorsal fin has rows of tubercles along its leading edge, which provide the basis for its specific scientific name spinipinnis . These porpoises are unobtrusive swimmers; they hardly break the surface of the water when they surface to breathe. Burmeister's porpoises can grow to a maximum length of approximately 2 metres, and males appear to be slightly larger on average than females

Question:-How deep can a dolphin dive? Answer: The dolphin is capable of diving for up to 20 minutes at 300 meters, this is to be considered as maxima for a bottle-nose dolphin although in some experiments they have dived to about 500 meters. Usually, bottle-nose dolphins will not dive very deep.

Question:-How often do dolphins give birth? Answer: Dolphins like bottlenose dolphins give birth about once every 2-4 years. If the calf is healthy, it will nurse for 1-2 years...weaning takes place then but it takes awhile.

Question:-Can dolphins live in fresh water and salt water? Answer: Yes, 5 specific species live in fresh water, they are usually named after the river they swim in such as the Amazon, the Yangzi Jiang, or the Ganges.

Question:-What is the difference between a dolphin and a porpoise? Answer: There are slight physical differences between dolphins and porpoises:

Question:-How long can dolphins go without being in water? Answer: Dolphins and whales out of water have two problems: heat and their own weight. Large animals have low surface to volume ratios, so it is hard for them to cool themselves. Also, whales are well insulated (blubber), which is good if they're in the water, but not if they're beached. It's like having a winter coat on in 70 degree weather, you'd overheat very quickly. A whale's body isn't designed to support its own weight, it relies on water for support. The larger whales will die from their own weight if they're beached long enough.

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